(VOVworld) – Protests against a series of incidents involving the death of black Americans at the hands of white police officers turned violent in Berkeley, California, as protesters threw rocks and attacked police.

Protesters march in Hollywood, California, on December 6, 2014 to protest against the death of unarmed black men at the hands of police (Photo:AFP)

Jennifer Coats, a spokeswoman for the Berkeley Police Department, said the police used teargas to break up the crowds when protesters smashed store windows, looted, and hurled objects at police. The crowds also vandalized buildings and the cars of police and civilians. Coats said the number of people arrested or injured has not been confirmed.

On Wednesday, thousands of people participated in a fourth day of protests following a grand jury decision that acquitted a white New York City police officer of any wrongdoings in the death of Eric Garner. Garner, an unarmed black man, died in July after a white officer, Daniel Pantaleo, put him in a chokehold.